Fiction Uncovered to promote writing talent

A new campaign has been launched to bring recognition to some of the UK's unheralded fiction talent.

The Fiction Uncovered promotion, which is backed by Arts Council England and supported by retailers such as Foyles, aims to draw attention to authors who have yet to receive a major literary prize or be prominently featured in the media.

A judging panel, which includes writer Giles Foden, playwright Damian Barr and Guardian Online literary editor Sarah Crown, will choose eight fiction writers to be promoted by a publicity campaign in 2011.

Foden, who is chairing the panel, said the media can be 'fickle' in choosing which authors it concentrates on and claimed the Fiction Uncovered initiative will help to change this.

'It's a pleasure to be involved in this important venture which will help to focus attention on good authors who, for one reason or another, have slipped out of view or are in danger of doing so,' he commented.

The authors selected by the panel may well be promoted in Foyles' new book store. The 1,300 sq ft Foyles 'Booktique' will open on October 28th in the One New Change retail hub and stock more than 6,000 titles.